The inappropriate use of a condom with an incorrect circumference increased the risk in breakage.

Majority of men prefer to go with the standard size condom, rather than a smaller or larger one.

Country

Length (cm)

Circumference (cm)

Nigeria (Gerofi)

17.0

13.4

US African (Kinsey)

16.6

12.5

US Caucasian (Kinsey)

15.8

12.3

Australia (Smith et al)

15.7

13.2

Brazil (De Ros et all)

14.5

11.9

Thailand (Muangman)

13.5

11.2

Korea (Han et all)

12.7

11.3

Did you know?

The first reported measurements of erect penises were in 1930’s.

Only 18 men participated in the Nigerian study.

In Thailand, measurements were taken using paper tapes by sex workers.

In Korea, the length measurement of an erect penis was conducted against a stiff cardboard strip, rather than against paper.

Measurements conducted in Brazil used intracavernous injections of a vasoactive mixture. Intracavernous injections assist in creating and maintaining erections and are injected directly into the erectile tissue in the penis.

If the erection is caused by an injection of a vasoactive drug, there is no evidence that the effect is the same as a naturally occurring one.

In Australia, participants were pre-trained before their self-measurements on a modelled penis.

2770 US Caucasian men participated in the study using the Kinsey.

A recent report describes plans for a penis size study in India, where digital cameras would be used to measure the penises in what is intended to be a less invasive method.

Rings were used to measure the circumference of an erect penis however it was inaccurate as there was no indication of how far down the penis the ring would sit or pushed. Penises are not round.

Smaller penises increase more in size during erection than larger ones.
Australian studies measure the circumference 1cm from the body. This dimension showed the greatest correlation with condom sizing.

US use 53mm condoms as its standard size, compared to 54mm in Australia.

Most men can distinguish a better fitting condom, between two sizes where the width differs by only 3mm.